5:20 p.m. update on fatal crash near Latchford

OPP NEWS RELEASES

************************* 5:20 p.m. update

Ontario Provincial Police report that heavy traffic is being advised to to stop in North Bay after today's fatal crash on Highway 11.

The latest estimate calls for this situation to last until roughly 8 p.m. tonight.

************************* Original release - 10:45 a.m.

LATCHFORD, ON - Members of the Temiskaming Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police are presently investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision involving two transport trucks that occurred at approximately 5:39 a.m. April 12, 2010. The collision involving two transport trucks occurred approximately 11 kilometres south of the town of Latchford.

One of the transport trucks was going northbound and the other was going southbound.

The driver of one of the transports was killed in the collision and the other was transported to the Temiskaming Hospital by ambulance for undetermined injuries.

Names are being withheld until family members have been contacted. OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigators from the Northeast Region Highway Safety Division are investigation the motor vehicle collision.

The Ministry of Environment has been contacted as some fuel has leaked into the ditches.

Highway 11 in both directions is presently closed and is expected to be closed for some time as the investigation is ongoing.

Updates will be forth coming as further information is gathered.

************************* Seat belt enforcement campaign will save lives

ORILLIA, ON, April 12 - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be increasing enforcement throughout the province to ensure that motorists everywhere do their part in saving lives by buckling up.

The increased enforcement is part of the Spring Seat Belt Campaign which is a partnership between the OPP, Ontario Ministry of Transportation and other road safety partners. The campaign runs from April 14 to 24, 2010.

In OPP jurisdictions this year (2010), 11 people have lost their lives as a result of not wearing their restraints at the time of the crash and many more were seriously injured.

In 2009, a total of 310 people died in motor vehicle collisions on highways patrolled by the OPP and in 68 of those deaths (26 percent) seat belt non-compliance was a factor.

The OPP will be focusing their efforts on child restraints during the campaign to raise awareness and protect children.

A properly used child booster seat reduces a child's risk of injury in a crash by as much as 75 percent, yet OPP officers find many child car seats are incorrectly used or incorrectly installed.

When used correctly, a booster seat provides 60 percent more protection than a seat belt alone.

In a collision, children using seat belts instead of booster seats are three and a half times more likely to suffer significant injury, and four times more likely to suffer head injury.

"Children are our future and they deserve every protection we can give them. Please ensure that any child is properly secured while travelling in your vehicle. Their lives depend on it," said OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino.

Quick facts

Seat belt non-compliance draws a fine of $235 and two demerit points.

In 2009, 310 people lost their lives in motor vehicle collisions on

OPP-patrolled roads and in 68 of those deaths (26 percent) seat belt non-compliance was a factor.

In 2009, the OPP checked 1,072,003 vehicles during the Spring Seat Belt Campaign and laid a total of 10,592 charges.

Learn more

Visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation website. Visit the Ontario Provincial Police website by clicking here.

*************************